Hundreds of surfing Santas catch waves at Florida beach

Surfing Santas as far as you could see. More than 6000 people showed up to watch hundreds of surfing Santa’s take to the waves in Cocoa Beach, Fla., Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015, at the end of Minutemen Causeway for the 7th Surfing Santas of Cocoa Beach. The event raises money for Grind for Life. The event has grown since George Trosset and his son George and daughter-in-law Britteny went surfing in Santa, snowman and elf costumes seven years ago in 2009. (Malcolm Denemark/Florida Today via AP)

COCOA BEACH, Florida  — Hundreds of surfers dressed as Santa Claus caught the waves and celebrated on the shore in what has become an annual tradition at Florida’s Cocoa Beach.

Organizers of the seventh annual Surfing Santa event say they distributed 500 wristbands Thursday for surfers who wanted to ride the waves dressed as St. Nick.

A singer with a ukulele led people in singing Christmas carols, and some Santas glided onto the beach via parachutes.

The event was started by George Trosset, who says one of his goals is to get into the Guinness Book of Records for holding the biggest surfing Santa event.